Audio Video News

Onkyo TX-RZ610 A/V Receiver: $799

With the TX-RZ610, Onkyo has lived up to its reputation for delivering super value by packing the latest features into AVRs that sell for less than a grand. In this case, you get a control center with sensible ergonomics, onboard power and processing for a 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos or DTS:X surround setup, and wireless connectivity that spans Wi-Fi, AirPlay, Bluetooth, and FireConnect. More to the point, veteran audio reviewer Mark Fleischmann observed: “The Onkyo TX-RZ610 is an excellent-sounding receiver with a well-executed version of the brand’s usual crisp voicing. The Onkyo people know what they’re doing.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Crisp, clear top end
FireConnect wireless capability
Attractive, simplified remote
Minus
Atmos limited to 5.1.2
Single-position room correction

Full Review Here

 

Meze 99 Classics Headphones: $309

It’s hard to not be seduced by the extraordinary fit and finish of the Meze 99 Classics headphones with their hand-finished solid wood earcups—available in maple or walnut (shown)—stainless steel headband, and sumptuous earpads. Question is, do they sound as good as they look? Apart from offering excellent noise isolation, the 99’s impressed headphone guru Steve Guttenberg with their rich, full sound. “Once I settled down for long-term listening, the sound was easy on the ears, even with some of today’s overly bright and compressed music.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Handsome design
Extraordinary build quality
Rich sound
Minus
Doesn’t fold for compact storage

Full Review Here

 

Anthem MRX 1120 A/V Receiver: $3,499

Anthem’s new flagship receiver is formidable. Whereas most flagships top out at nine channels of amplification, the MRX 1120 has eleven plus both flavors of object-based surround processing and the company’s outstanding room-correction software. In other words: everything you need (except the speakers!) to set up and tweak a full-bore 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos (and soon, DTS:X) system. Reviewer David Vaughn concluded: “The MRX 1120, through countless hours of music listening and movie watching, provided the escape I was looking for without introducing any of the fatigue I’ve experienced with lesser products. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better-sounding solution short of going with separates.”

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support
Anthem Room Correction (ARC)
11 amp channels in one box
Minus
ARC doesn’t calibrate dual subwoofers individually
Pricey

Full Review Here